Winfield scott jaeger



(No Model.)

w. s. JAEGERr HANGER FOR PICTURES. No. 527,793. Patented 0 01:. 23,1894;

; lw/z/igivr E" I Ja eyer ..'UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

WIN FIELD SCOTT JAEGER, ()F TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM AXF ORD,BENJAMIN HOLMES, AND FRANK D. HOLMES, OF

SAME PLACE.

HANGER FOR PICTURES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent no. 527,793, dated October23,1894.

Application filed January 16, 1892. 'fserinnmmam (Nomodel-l I I To all whom it may concern: Be 1t known that I, WINFIELD SCOTT JAE- GER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented new and usefnl Improvements in Hangers for Pictures and other Articles, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to that type of picture and similar hangers wherein a rear hooked portion is provided with an ornamental front plate or cap-piece capable of being moved to conceal the hook and lock the suspending cord in engagement therewith.

The prior construction of suchhangers is expensive in that a special pintle or pivot pin must be secured to the rear hooked portion in such manner that the ornamental front plate or cap-piece can be loosely hungon'such pintle or pivot pin, to swing laterally in a plane parallel with the front vertical face of the rear hooked portion. The costof production is an objection and further the ornamental front plate or cap-piece is liable to accidentally swing or move laterally when subjected to ordinary vibrations and consequently the front platesor cap-pieces will not remain in proper position to properly conceal the hook and present a nice appearance.

The objects of my invention are to improve the construction of picture and similar hangers above alluded to; to reduce the cost of manufacture; to avoid so pivoting the ornamental front plate or cap-piece that it swings laterally in a plane parallel with the front face of the hooked portion; to avoid the employment of a separate pintle or pivot pin riveted or otherwise securedto the hooked portion, and to avoid journaling the ornamental front plate or cap-piece ona specially provided pintle or pivot pin.

To such ends the invention consists in features of construction and combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1, is a front elevation of a picture or similar hanger constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, is a vertical central sectional view of the same showing the ornamental plate or cap-piece in its normal position. Fig. 3, is a similar view showing the plate or cap-piece movedoutward to expose the hook. Fig. 4, is a front elevation showinga modification of theinvention. Fig. 5 is a vertical central sectional View of the same showing the ornamental plate or cappiece in its normal position. Fig. 6, is a similar view showing the plate or cap-piece moved outward to expose the hook. Fig. 7, is a front elevation of another modification, and Fig. 8, is a vertical central sectional view of the same.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use myinvention I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein The numeral. 1, indicates a rear portion having at one extremity a hook 2 and at the opposite extremity a bendable or flexible metallic strap or shank 3 formed at its upper end with a rebent portion 4:, the extremity of which is soldered or otherwise permanently secured to an ornamental plate or cap-piece 5 of such dimensions that when in its normal position, as indicated in Fig. 2, it will entirely conceal from view the rear hooked portion and also the bendable or flexible'strap or shank.

The bendable or flexible strap or shank 3 may be-brazed, soldered orotherwise suitably attached to the rear hooked portion 1, but as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the bendable or flexible strap or shank is secured in position by the nail 6 employed to secure the hanger to a wall or other object. In this construction it is only essential to provide the rear hooked portion and the strap or shank with coincident holes for the passage of the nail.

The front plate or cap-piece 5 may be of any form, shape or configuration suitable for the conditions required or as fancy may dictate. This plate or cap-piece may be struck or stamped up from thin sheet metal or other material to represent a face, but since the ornamental configuration may be largely varied, I do not deem it essential to more fully describe the same. The construction and dimensions of the plate or cap piece should however be such as to entirely conceal the rear hooked portion and the bendable or fleximo ble strap or shank when the plate or cappiece is in its normal position.

The strap or shank 3 is composed of such metal as can be readily bent so that the ornamental plate or cap-piece is capable of being moved in the arc of a circle toward or from the rear hooked portion for the purpose of concealing or exposing the hook. It the ornamental plate or cap-piece is moved outward to the position represented by Fig. 3, the picture or other suspending cord can be readily engaged with the hook 2 and subsequently the ornamental plate or cap-piece can be pressed toward the rear hooked portion for the purpose of concealing the same. These movements of the ornamental plate or cappiece are conveniently effected through the medium of the bendable or flexible metallic strap or shank 3. By this means I am enabled to entirely avoid the employment of a separate pintle or pivot pin and furthermore the ornamental plate or cap-piece will remain in the position to which adjusted without liability of being accidentally displaced by ordinary vibrations.

In the modified construction Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the bendable or flexible strap or shank 3 is formed integral with the rear hooked portion 1, or what is substantially the same thing the strap or shankis brazed to the rear hooked portion. The strap or shank, however, must be suificiently thin to permit its bending for the purpose of moving the ornamental plate or cap-piece toward or from the rear hooked portion. The ornamental plate or cap-piece in this modification is made to represent a spider having a captive fly.

In the modification Figs. 7 and 8, the construction is substantially the same as hereinbefore described,with the exception that the ornamental plate or cap-piece 5 is made to represent an alligator or analogous animal.

In the several examples illustrated, the nail used to secure the hanger is driven in to its head, and consequently it will sustain far more weight than if driven in half way, as is common with ordinary nails employed to hang pictures and other objects.

In the construction exhibited by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the ornamental plate or cap-piece 5 is formed with an orifice 7 through which the hook 2 is adapted to project when the plate or cap-piece is moved toward the rear hooked portion. By this construction it is advisable to extend the hook 2 through the orifice 7 and and then suspend the picture or other cord therefrom so that the cord will operate to press the ornamental plate or cap piece closely against the wall. If this construction is adopted it is preferable to provide the ornamental plate or cap-piece with a shield or flange 8 extending upwardly in such manner as to conceal the orifice. The same construction, however, can be employedwith a picture or other cord engaging the hook in rear of the ornamental plate or cap-piece.

The invention provides an ornamental, neat and attractive hanger which is strong, durable, etficient, economical and pleasing to the eye, and the cord can be easily applied or removed while the hooked portion is completely concealed by an ornamental and artistic cap or cover.

The improved hanger is also useful in that it will conceal old nail holes in a wall.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- As an improved article of manufacture, the picture hanger herein described, consisting of the rear plate 1 having a hook 2 at one extremity, the bendable metallic strap or shank 3 having one end connected with the upper extremity of the rear plate and provided with a bent portion intermediate its ends, and the ornamental front plate or cap-piece 5 having an orifice 7 for reception of hook 2 secured to the bendable metallic strap or shank and serving to conceal the rear plate and its hooked portion, said strap or shank bending when the ornamental plate or cap -piece is moved toward or from the front or rear plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK D. HOLMES, THos. I. SUTCLIFFE.

[In it] 

